SYNCHRONOUS MACHINES

Introduction to Synchronous Machines

‰A three-phase synchronous machine is doubly-excited a.c machines because
its field winding is energized from dc source and its armature winding is
connected to ac source .
‰Under steady state conditions, its speed depends on the frequency of
armature currents and the number of field poles.
120f
N = Ns = ................(1)
p

‰A synchronous generator called an alternator is universally employed for

the generator of three-phase power.
Construction of Synchronous Machines

Salient-pole
Pole-core
Rotor-winding
Stator-core Ventilator
Brush-
holders

Slip-rings

Shaft
 Construction Feature of Synchronous Machine
‰In synchronous machines, the armature winding either exports ac power
(synchronous generator) or imports ac power (synchronous motor) where as the
field winding is always energized from dc source.
‰In other words the synchronous machines are double excited energy conversion
devices.
‰The generation of emf, in general depends on the relative motion between the
field flux and armature winding.
‰In view of this, an ac generator, alternator or synchronous generator may have
either
‰rotating field poles and stationary armature or
‰rotating armature and stationary field pole.
‰Synchronous machines are constructed with high power armature winding on
the stator and low-power field winding on the rotor, though small synchronous
machines with the reverses arrangement may also be built.
 The advantages or providing the field winding on rotor and armature
winding on the stator are given below.
a) It is economical to have armature winding on the stator and field winding on the rotor.

Armature winding on No of slip rings Slip-ring loss Efficiency

Stator 2 Less High

Rotor 3 More Low
b) Stationary armature winding can be insulated satisfactorily for high voltage (for 33KV
synchronous
c) Efficiently hence permitting large construction of synchronous machines ( say 100MVA or
above capacity)
d) Low-power field winding on the rotor gives a lighter rotor and therefore, low centrifugal
force. Hence, higher rotor speeds are permissible, increasing the synchronous machine
output for given dimensions.
‰ Synchronous machines are two types depending up on the geometrical structure of the
rotor
a) Salient-pole type and
b) Cylindrical-rotor, round rotor or non-salient pole type
‰ The field winding on the salient poles is a concentrated winding.
‰ In case of cylindrical rotor the field winding is distributed winding housed in the rotor
slots.
‰ A further distinction between the two types is that the salient pole synchronous
machines have non-uniform air gap, under pole center it is minimum, and in between
poles the air gap is maximum.
‰ In cylindrical rotor synchronous machine the air gap is uniform throughout ,
neglecting the slot openings.
‰ The stators of both types of synchronous machines are similar to induction motor
stator. That is , the synchronous machine stator consists of a cast iron, stator frame, a
cylindrical laminated and uniformly slotted stator core, a 3-phase distributed winding
(placed in the stator slots), end covers, base etc.
‰ The stator frame and end covers serves merely as mechanical support to the stator
core and are not designed to carry the magnetic flux.
Rotor construction of synchronous machine

S
N

Salient-Pole Non-Salient-Pole
Rotor construction of synchronous machine

Salient-Pole Non-Salient-Pole
‰ Synchronous generators are usually of three-phase type because of several advantages
associated with three-phase generator transmission and utilization. The frequency of the
generated emf. PN
f = , HZ ..............................(2)
120
‰ In Ethiopia and many other countries, alternators generate a frequency of 50Hz.
Therefore.
Number of poles, P = 6000/speed in rpm, N
‰ Oil engine and Hydraulic turbines, operate best at relatively low speeds, therefore, the
alternator driver by these prime movers must have relatively large number of poles.
‰ For accommodating large number of poles the rotor diameter must be comparatively
increased and from mechanical considerations, salient pole construction has been found
to suit best for low speed prime movers.
‰ Salient pole rotor structure is also employed for comparatively small synchronous
machine.
‰ Commercially the salient pole synchronous generators are called hydro-alternators or
hydro -generators.
‰ Salient-pole rotor are characterised by their large diameter and short axial length.
‰ Steam and gas turbines have best operating characteristic at relatively high speed,
therefore, alternators driven by these must have a fewer number of poles, say 2 or 4.
‰ If salient-pole construction is used for such speeds, the rotor structure may not be able
to withstand the enormous centrifugal force developed by the salient poles.
‰ Therefore cylindrical rotor construction is best suited from mechanical consideration,
for high speed prime-movers.
‰ Commercially the cylindrical rotor (non-salient pole) synchronous generators are called
turbo-alternators or turbo-generators.
‰ Cylindrical (non-salient-pole) rotor are characterised by their very long axial length
and small diameter.
 Synchronous motor
‰Synchronous motor , usually of the salient pole type, are of the same general
construction as salient pole generators.
‰Under steady state, the synchronous motor operate at constant speed as
determine N = 120P f
‰In salient pole synchronous motor, the functions of damper bars (embedded in
pole faces) are to
‰ damp-out the rotor oscillations and
‰ start the synchronous motors.
‰The synchronous motor is a three-phase ac motor which operates at constant
speed from no load condition to full load.
‰As the dc field excitation is changed, the power factor of synchronous motor can
be varied over a wide range of lagging and leading values.
‰The synchronous motor is used in may industrial application because of its fixed
speed characteristic over the range from no load to full load.
‰This type of motor also is used to correct or improve the power factor of three
phase ac industrial circuits.
 Principle of Operation
Alternator
‰The rotating portion of a rotating field alternator consists of field poles mounted
on a shaft which is driven by the prime mover,.
‰The magnetic flux established by the rotating field poles cuts across the
conductors of the stator winding to produce the induced out put voltage of the
stator.
‰The following comparison can mad between the rotating- armature alternator and
the rotating field alternator .
‰In the rotating-armature alternator, the armature conductors cut the flux
established by stationary field poles.
‰For the rotating field cut by flux established by rotating field pole . In each case
an induced voltage is generated.
Synchronous Motor
‰When the rated-phase voltage is applied to the stator windings, a rotating
magnetic field is developed. This field travels at the synchronous speed .
‰As stated in previous units, the synchronous speed of magnetic field depends on
the frequency of the three-phase voltage and the number of stator poles.
⎛ 120 f ⎞
⎜ Ns = ⎟
⎝ P ⎠

‰The magnetic field which is developed by the stator windings travel at

synchronous speed and cuts across the squirrel cage of the rotor.
‰Both voltage and the current are induced in the bars of the rotor winding. The
resulting magnetic field of the short circuited winding (squirrel cage) reacts
with the stator field to create a torque which causes the rotor to run.
‰The rotation of the rotor will increases the speed to a point slightly below the
synchronous speed of the magnetic field set up by the stator.
‰In other words , the motor is started as squirrel cage induction motor.
‰The field circuit is now excited from outside source of dc and fixed magnetic
poles are set up in the rotor field cores.
‰The magnetic poles of the rotor are attracted unlike magnetic poles of the
magnetic field set up by the stator.
‰Once the field poles are locked, the with unlike poles of the stator field , the
rotor speed becomes the same as the speed of the magnetic field set up by the
stator windings. In other words, the speed of the rotor is now the synchronous
speed.
‰Remember that a synchronous motor must always be started as a three-phase
squirrel cage induction motor with the dc field excitation disconnected.
‰The dc field circuit is added only after the rotor accelerates to a value near the
synchronous speed. The motor will then operate as a synchronous motor.
‰If an attempt made to start a three-phase synchronous motor by first energized
the dc field circuit and then applying the three-phase voltage to the stator
windings, the motor will not start since the torque is zero.
 Torque on rotor at start

At t = 0 At t = t1
Methods to start Synchronous Motor
Two methods are normally used to start a synchronous motor:
a) use a variable-frequency supply or
b) Start the machine as an induction motor